Friday, May 29, 2009

don't you just love it when you get to CHECK things off your "to do" list!??!?! :) i am a HUGE list maker....HUGE!! i'll make a to do list and include BRUSH TEETH - JUST so i can check it off!! Soooo, i've had a long list of things to do that are tedious, you know the "to do's" that you aren't REALLY excited to get to?!?! A TON of those got CROSSED off the list this week!!! i love that feeling!! NOW i gotta get a new list up and running!! don't know what to do without a list! i might run around aimlessly!!!

sooooo - some of the things YOU might be interested in knowing that were crossed off the list......the shirt for Crop*A*Ganza-ville is FINALIZED on our end - FINALLY!!! I can't wait to get it back from Shirts Plus and show it to you - you will LOVE it (we hope!)

The "Fathers Day" class that i've been talking about is here and completed!! i love it - it's SO super cute and easy - and SURE to make YOUR "dad" proud to show it off!!! What do you think?!?! This would also be a great time to introduce you to the Designer of this adorable cascading frame......Laura Fernsler!!! I don't have a detailed "bio" for you yet - but you will LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! She is SO super creative, has a refreshing style and on top of all that she's SO SUPER NICE!!! So - this will be her FIRST class here at the attic......let's welcome her!!!! We are going to offer this class to you TWO different dates....SATURDAY JUNE 13TH from 10:00am-Noon AND THURSDAY JUNE 18th from 6:30-8:30 pm. Laura will continue to teach a monthly "altered" class for us......be looking for more examples and information on that - you will LOVE this class - it's a great way to learn new techniques, brush up on your "older" techniques, and even complete a project to give as a gift or keep for yourself - each month!!! (can you tell i'm excited to have her!?!?!)

NEXT item crossed off the list this week: Danelle's MUCHO anticipated class - FINALLY has a date and a "tentative" name!!! "Tech-Tastik"......that's the name!! (i personally LOVE it!)......Danelle wants to teach "techniques".....you know - things you see in magazines, idea books, websites and such but you have NO idea how they made that happen!?!? She wants to teach YOU how to MAKE it happen!!!! This is going to be a NEW and EXCITING class for us, and i can't WAIT to see how well it is received!!!! Her FIRST class will be SATURDAY JULY 25TH from 10:00am-Noon. This first class she will be focusing on Masking AND Invisibles!!!! OMG YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!! We're HOPING to be able to provide you with FOUR completed layouts to leave with each class!!! Be watching for more information and sneaks!!!

These were just a couple of layouts that i kidnapped from danelle yesterday......OMG!!you might be asking yourself....WHERE DID SHE GET THAT BLUE GLITTERED POLKA DOT PAPER?!?! Welllllll, its the new Doodlebug Confectioners Cardstock!! AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY KKKKKAAAAAAUUUUUUTTTTEEEE!! Try and pick just ONE that you like - only ONE!! Here it is in all of it's glory - right out of the package yesterday!!ohhh, and the LOTM for June - i love it!!!!

Make-n-take.......Come and join us from 9:00am - ???? (we'll do em until we run out of supplies!) This one is FREE!!!! Renee used the Twist Trimmer and the WRMK Chomper!!! Come in and see it in action and create a beautiful 12x12 page at the same time!!! This SHOULD be PERFECT for YOU!!! Mark it now - the FIRST Saturday of each month......LOTM AND a make n take!?!?! WOW!!!

Guess what we are "testing" out here at the attic?!?! JENNI BOWLIN.....we don't have MUCH left but it's definitely been a HUGE SUCCESS and it's only been here for TWO DAYS!!! So - i'd say we'll be carrying "jenni's" schtuff in the future!!!

OH - i talked with Kate C. yesterday about the Photo 101 class. we'd like to have your opinions.....do you want another 6 week class or the 1 day 4 hour class......if you're interested IN taking the class - i would like to hear from you.....scrapfunattic@cox.net drop me a line and lmk!!!

Okay - so yes, i have some guilt about neglecting YOU - my fellow blogger community - yes, i do think of you all OFTEN!! but, believe it or not - i really haven't had much to say!! I KNOW!!! It's not that there aren't exciting things happening around here, or that we've dropped off the planet - i just sometimes reach a point where i'm just "done" talking!! I KNOW - shocked aren't you!!! But, no worries, i've made myself a list of things that we CAN talk about if this happens to me again!!!So - i just finished the newsletter for this week - YES, i think it should be called your END of the week Newsletter from the attic! WAIT - that's kinda catchy - i'm gonna go change that before i send it out......okay!! Make sure and read the newsletter - there's a "coupon" of sorts in there!!i've been back to working on ganza stuff - can't believe that's coming up VERY SOON!!! you'll start receiving emails from me about that as well!! we should have a picture of the shirt VERY SOON - we're working on the lyrics!!!Also - i'm going to COMMIT to posting a "challenge" if you will weekly beginning JUNE 1st for you guys!! I know that summer is extremely busy....i'm a mom......i have kiddos out of school as well!!! But also as a RETAILER i know that summer slows WAY down for us - cuz we're all SOOOOO busy OUTDOORS and on vacations with our families, so i'm hoping to keep the door to scrapbooking "propped open" for you this summer!!! So - join me.....it'll be interesting!!!!Oh and btw - the OCTOBER AFTERNOON - EXCELLENT seller for the store - you've once again helped to make our future CHA purchases!!! Good choice btw!!!missy - this is for you!! (_x_) :) :) :) :) :) that really did make me laugh!!!!!

Here is a closer look at the JUNE LOTM!!!Okay - i gotta run, just had a FAHBULOUS idea......

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Okay - so you know we order our Custom Die Cuts from Scrapbooks, Etc. in Topeka...well - we just LOVE Pam!! With our last order she sent us a little gift. And we have STOLEN her idea and this is what we created!!! (please note i did NOT have time to alter these photos!) These were gifts for the retiring/departing teachers for my kids' school!!

We did have to cut down the notepads, and THANK YOU JESUS for the We R Memory Keepers CHOMPER!! It made rounding the corners of the notepads a CINCH!!!! i know what you're telling yourself right now - WHY COULDN'T THEY HAVE SHOWN ME THESE IN APRIL...for MY TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFTS?!?!?! I know, i know......but better late than never.....AND - if you're smart - you'll stop RIGHT NOW and put in your planner, blackberry, Iphone....NEXT YEAR, end of APRIL - TEACHER APPRECIATION TIN - SCRAP*FUNATTIC!!!

We're thinking of having a Make N Take with these - of course it wouldn't be FREE, but a minimal fee....what do you think?!?!

We turned the Chipboard Embellishments that we had left over into Magnets!!!

These tins were SO much fun, and SO super easy to make!! The hardest part was deciding WHAT to put on the front because this Teachers Pet paper is CUTE ALL BY ITSELF!! Okay - so the principal at the kids' school is a HUGE KState fan!! PLUS she's the BEST PRINCIPAL EVER!!! So - Renee and I had this idea of making her a mailbox, earlier this year - and then renee found the perfect size - so we thought we'd make her one for the end of the year!!.....here it is BEFORE!!!

And After!!!

What do you think!?!? A HUGE thanks to Renee - i seriously have LOST my creativity to renee - i don't even think anymore - i just say "nay nay!!!"......and it's all over!

Okay - now the stuff you've been waiting for!!! Now - not all of this is "NEW" - it's new to US !!!! FINALLY the MVP line from We R Memory Keepers!! After graduationS, our Sports Section was EMPTY!! I LOVE THIS LINE!! It's perfect for everything - EVEN NON sports related themes!! CAN'T WAIT TO USE IT!!!! especially the foil die cuts!! The new TWIST TRIMMER from We R Memory Keepers....including the blades.....Renee's been playing with this one - NO WORRIES...WE WILL HAVE A MAKE N TAKE with it VERY SOON!!!

The new Rub On Tool from We R.....it comes in some other colors - love the size!

okay - FINALLY!! OCTOBER AFTERNOON IS IN DA HOUSE!! This is our FIRST time to have O.A. here - so this is a TRIAL - show us how much you want us to continue to carry it!!!

I LOVE the alpha stickers!! They come in real close to the DOODLE BUG alphas (which no worries - the new alpha is on the way!)

Night Light (not a new release - but i did order PAPER PACKS!...love the lil monsters!)

this was a cute layout i found on the October Afternoon blog - love it!!

YES......Krusty and Renee just about had a HEART ATTACK when they found out these were here!!! They are supa cute!!!

And the ROLLING TOTE.....Ahhhhhhh, love it! :) i THINK renee MIGHT just have hers already packed for MAPLE MEMORIES next month!

Whew - that was a LOT for me this morning!! Hope you enjoyed it!! :) peace out!

I canNOT believe it!!! I've officially turned into my parents!! I remember my parents always saying...."I canNOT believe that it's already time for school to be out"!!......all the while I'M thinking...I CAN!!! But it's true - it's out for us!!! And, i'm a little sad this morning. My little guys are officially 3rd and 1st graders!! :( HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?!?! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!?! It's times like this that make me SO CRAZILY (is that a word?!) HAPPY that i scrapbook!!! Times like this, i can look back in an instant (literally) and see how far they've come...the milestones and simple moments that they've achieved......ahhhh, so HAPPY that i record their lives!! AND so should YOU!!! I think we, so many times, are toooo busy RUSHING to be "caught up" and trying to find the "PERFECT" layout that we rarely take the time to STOP and really appreciate WHAT WE'RE DOING!!!

With all that being said......I've learned a few things this graduation season, and I hope to help a few other parent's out there as well!! We see MORE mom's (and some dads!) that are "deer in the headlights" when they come in to complete their child's senior album, or memory board. They don't have a clue WHERE to start or WHAT to do!!! And even those of us that Scrapbook, sometimes are so overwhelmed that WE don't know WHERE TO START!!! So - here are just a few "tips" that i'm writing down and ALSO going to implement them into my routine so that i will have a more enjoyable time doing THEIR Senior albums and boards!!!!

***We all have (or maybe you're not as ANAL as i am!) but I have loads of their certificates, drawings, art projects, "A+" papers, notes from the teachers, report cards, etc......i don't know how you SORT them....i personally have FOUR clear drawers that i sort them into. "Sports Hayden" "Sports Kord" "School Hayden" and "School Kord". This makes it SO much easiER to find when you need it....HOWEVER, because i save virtually EVERYTHING, it's PACKED in there TIGHT!! Getting torn, curled and folded every time i add something new to the pile. SOooooo, one of our wonderful customers "Gina" came in and told us what she did!! She purchased an 8.5 X 11 album, this one happened to be the We R Memory Keepers 3-ring album. She puts all of those things in THIS album, keeping them FLAT, SAFE and ORGANIZED!!!! So - this is a project i plan to achieve THIS SUMMER!!!! This will also help me to really decide WHAT i'm keeping and WHAT i'm tossing!!!

***ORGANIZE YOUR PHOTOS!!! Now - some of us may still have 'actual' photographs that we need to organize - but if you have a young one who won't be graduating for several + years, then more than likely you have all your photos on DIGITAL.........it's an OVERWHELMING idea to think of going back YEARS and YEARS to organize your photos, so why not just start with THIS year!?!? Once this year is organized, move on to 2008!?! ! This is something that i do occasionally during a Friday Night Crop!!! Now - you may ask HOW do i organize my photos?!?! There are SEVERAL different Software's out there - you just need to find the one that works for YOU!!! I personally am in LIMBO right now!! I am using IPHOTO on my mac, and like it "alright"....but i have purchased the Creative Memories Software , although i have not yet installed it!!! I have seen it in action and read FABULOUS reviews about it as well!! So - that's yet ANOTHER project i'm hoping to achieve this summer!! This software is fabulous b/c you can organize your photos, flag them with your "most favorite", and then when it's time for you to organize a slide show, memory board, page, album - you can click on "favorites" and it will pull ALLLLL of those that you've flagged into ONE folder!! Making it SUPER easy for you!!! (iphoto will also do this for you!...as well as loads of other programs..the hard part is finding the one that YOU love the most!)

***i'm not going to ASSUME that any of us are "caught up" (i HATE that statement by the way!)..it's almost as if you're putting an expiration date on your scrapbooking.....ugghhh, don't like it! ANYWAY.....if you're NOT current in your "scrapbook", try NOT to feel overwhelmed.....WHAT IF YOU WERE CAUGHT UP!?!? Then what would you scrapbook?!?! Would you be like my SISTER and STAGE events so that you HAVE something to scrapbook!? (love ya sis! muah!!) So - I personally think its best for ME, to start with NOW...what i know NOW!! What i remember NOW!!! So - for example, we had track & field last week, i will more than likely scrapbook THAT event before i go back and do the first day of school. The memories are FRESH and i can get MORE substance into a layout that way!! So - you need to find out what works for you!! When i first started scrapbooking 10 years ago - i was VERY much a chronological cropper. It was almost like my dinner plate when i was little....i couldn't get to the dessert (the good stuff, the CURRENT stuff) unless i'd finished my vegetables!!! (ie: the older stuff!?!?) does that make any sense!?!? And i found myself DREADING to scrapbook - all b/c i wouldn't ALLOW myself to skip ahead year or two. WHO MAKES THESE CRAZY RULES anyway?!! So - do what works for you - but just DO IT!!!! :)

***if you have a SENIOR that you're working on an album for, and you didn't START scrapbooking until he/she was a Freshman......DO NOT FRET and KILL yourself trying to get their LIVES in your album from BIRTH till NOW!! Seriously - go back - get a FEW pictures from each GRADE, a few baby pictures, trim them into 2x2 squares using a punch and smack those babies on a layout - wah lah - you're "done"!!! Seriously - there should be NO STRESSING about this hobby!!! This is something you should do to chronicle YOUR LIFE.......something that helps you to reminisce and remember, reflect and recall!! No worries!!

***this one is a little more PERSONAL for me.......BOYS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS GIRLS!......i can't tell you HOW MANY times i've heard that this last month. "I'm so glad this is the last "board"/"album" that i'm doing!"...."oh - is this your only child/last grad?!"......"NO - my son still needs to graduate, but i won't be doing anything like this for him!"......HUH!?!? ...........or - "Man - i'm so glad that i only have ONE daughter, my son doesn't care ANYTHING about this stuff!!" ...... HUH?!?!! What makes us think that just because they are MALE, that they don't CARE about this stuff?!?! That they don't CARE about looking back at photos of themselves as babies, toddlers, children, PUBERTY!, high school....sure - they may not CARE about whether you spent $10.00 on a package of stickers to embellish the PERFECT page, and SURE they may not "get" that you spent 2 hours STITCHING that STAR and FLOURISH up the side of the page making it the PERFECT touch to his page. However, HE will still appreciate and enjoy looking back over his albums - AT SOME POINT IN HIS LIFE - HE WILL!!!!! So - i beg you, please don't discount the BOYS. Don't automatically put them into THAT category!!! I know - i know - it's HARDER to scrapbook for a boy, yadda yadda yadda - i disagree - but that's another post for another day!!!

okay - i know this post was SUPA long - and i hope that ANY of it was beneficial for you!!! I'm working on posting the NEW stuff - so stay tuned for that!!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

happy tuesday!! don't have a lot of time today to blog - but did wanna pop on here and say hey hey!!! i PROMISE once school is OUT and OVER i will be getting BACK into my regular blogging routine!!! i've bee helping out up at the school nearly daily, and it's kinda cuttin' into my blog time!!! so, no worries.....i will return!!renee and i worked on a CUTE lil project yesterday and i am dying to show it to you, however i can't YET!! it was for some of the teachers at the kids' school, so once she gets them delivered to those LUCKY teachers, i have PHOTOS to share with you!!!! they turned out KA-UTE!!!.....we are also working on a litte project for someone else i know!! i will take pictures and post them later today or early tomorrow.we are expecting some FAHHHBULOUS new stuff in this week, i'm not gonna tell you, tho, until they have ARRIVED!!!and even more good news.....with summer coming up we have TWO FUN announcements to make....first - KRUSTY IS COMIN' BACK! She'll be here LOTS more during the week!! AND, we have a NEW INSTRUCTOR coming on board!! i can't wait for you allllll to meet her! We are SOOOO excited!! We're going to be offering some NEW classes this summer, so be on the look out for that too!!okay -gotta run, but i WILL be back with a more INFORMATIVE blog AND newsletter soon!!

AND the LIMITED EDITION All My Memories Faux Patent Purse and wallet combo........RED AND BLACK - I LOVE THESE!!! :)

i know there was NO newsletter this week, and i apologize! :( (thank you so much to linda, for the nice email checkin' in!) - YES, we've been so busy with graduationS this week, AND my kiddos had field day, school BBQ's, birthday parties, play dates....LOTS of time spent at the school!! :)

i'm hoping to get back on the stick next week!!! hope you have a great weekend!!!